Most clients come to me with a fairly straightforward goal: they want to make things easier for the people they love. Some are concerned about probate. Others want to protect a young child's inheritance, decide who can act if they become incapacitated, or make sure the right person can manage their home and accounts.
Those goals may sound simple, but putting them into a dependable set of documents requires more than entering names into a template. My job as the founder and attorney at Nield Legacy Law is to translate your wishes into a plan that works as a whole.
First, we talk about your family and what you want to accomplish.
We start with a free 15-minute introductory call. It gives you a chance to tell me why you're considering estate planning and to see whether a longer consultation makes sense. You don't need to know all the legal terms or arrive with a completed questionnaire.
In a full consultation, I ask about the people who matter to you, the assets you own, and the decisions you want others to make if you cannot. We discuss your home, possible successor trustees, guardians for minor children, and how and when beneficiaries should receive their inheritance.
Next, I prepare documents designed to work together.
A revocable living trust is often central to a California estate plan, but it is not the only document involved. Depending on the agreed scope, I may also prepare a pour-over will, durable power of attorney, advance health care directive, HIPAA authorization, certification of trust, general assignment, and other appropriate documents.
I pay particular attention to questions that can be easy to overlook: What happens if your first-choice trustee cannot serve? If a child dies before you, where does that share go? Should a beneficiary receive everything immediately or remain protected under a continuing trust? Does the plan address your business or real property?
A plan should make sense to the person signing it—and to the people who may one day need to carry it out.
Then we review the draft together.
After the drafts are prepared, we schedule a review meeting. This is an important part of the process, not a formality. I explain the main documents and provisions in plain language, answer your questions, and identify any changes needed to make sure the plan reflects your intentions.
For example, we may clarify when a successor trustee takes over, whether beneficiaries receive assets outright or in further trust, or what your financial agent is authorized to do. Clients should not have to sign documents they do not understand.
Signing is a milestone, but not the entire process.
Once the plan is ready, we coordinate the required signing formalities. Funding the trust is also essential. Depending on the asset, that may involve a deed, changing account ownership, or reviewing beneficiary designations. Simply signing the trust generally does not transfer every asset into it.
I help clients understand the steps that follow signing, which assets may belong in the trust, and why some assets should be handled differently. You can read more in my companion article on funding a California living trust.
Why direct attorney involvement matters
Nield Legacy Law is a focused, attorney-led practice. When you work with my firm, you work directly with me on your planning and document review. My experience in the probate court system shaped the way I approach estate plans: the documents need to be clear not only today, but also when a family is relying on them during a difficult time.
For more about my background, visit my attorney biography. If you're considering a living trust, you can start with a brief introductory call to discuss your goals.